Jacob Ellehammer

	JACOB CHRISTIAN HANSEN ELLEHAMMER Inventor, Aviation Pioneer
	Born at Bakkebolle, Denmark, June 14th, 1871. As a young man, Ellehammer taught himself the principles of electricity and the internal combustion engine. His early commercial success with a motorcycle design permitted him to indulge his pursuit of powered flight. Having calculated the horsepower required to lift an aircraft, Ellehammer designed and built the radial engine to power it. Incredibly, he continued to experiment unaware of the Wright's successful flight in 1903 and, on September 12, 1906 became the first European to fly an airplane. His feat consisted of a flight of 421 meters at an altitude of 50 centimeters. Focusing then on vertical flight, he succeeded in making a helicopter rise from the ground in 1912. Jacob Christian Ellehammer exemplified the inquisitiveness of the inventor and the daring and courage of the pioneer. His practical contributions opened the way for European aviation development. Died 20 May 1946.
	Elected to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 1986